Review: Babies The Musical (The Other Palace)

Review by Daz Gale

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The birth of a new musical is always an exciting thing to witness, quite literally in this case as Babies takes its first steps in its fully staged premiere. Having already amassed a following through the release of music and a concert production last year, there was much excitement at the announcement it would be receiving a run at The Other Palace, but would audiences be ready for this production that felt overdue, or would it still feel slightly premature?

Babies was conceived from a spontaneous collaboration between Jack Godfrey and Martha Geelan in 2020. It began life shortly after with an early version presented in 2021 and an EP released in 2022. I first became aware of the show last year watching a showcase of full show which I immediately fell in love with. Towards the end of last year, London audiences got their first chance to see the full show when the concert production took over the Lyric Theatre for one night only. I commented how stage-ready the show was, and was itching to be able to write a review for a show I had truly fallen in love with – now I can finally share just why I feel Babies is good enough to warrant the star rating you will have already noticed.

The concept of Babies sees a group of 9 Year 11 students (15-year-olds for anyone not familiar with the British school system) take on a week-long project of each looking after a baby simulator doll. Though initially reluctant, the project changes the teens lives and attitudes in unexpected ways in this show about growing up, finding yourself and friendship.

To an outsider, Babies may not seem like the richest of ideas with the notion that this one-dimensional idea could prove paper-thin. This is where the phrase “Never judge a book by its cover” comes into its own, as Babies constantly surprises with a multi-layered narrative. Through Martha Geelan’s book and Jack Godfrey’s music and lyrics, the story is allowed to grow in a surprising manner with themes of identity, problems at home and the weight of expectation all comes into play,

This is a truly ensemble show and what is interesting is in how developed each of the nine characters are. Though admittedly some have more backstory and characterisation than others, we get moments to know each of them with every character getting their own moment in the spotlight, This is a testament to the quality of Godfrey and Geelan’s writing which allows the story to breathe and be told naturally in a perfectly paced and constantly captivating production. With a story full of heart that will tug at your heartstrings at certain points and as it draws to its conclusion, it is also laugh-out-loud hilarious. The situation itself provides no shortage of opportunities for humour, with one-liners, eight gags and interactions meaning there is no shortage of moments to make you laugh, cry and cry with laughter. This has been honed in through the show’s development stage so moments such as the unexpected events of Lulu’s party and the differing way each classmate looks after their babies can make you roar with laughter – it certainly did for me.

The production has been elevated for this run at The Other Palace with Martha Geelan’s direction perfectly tapping into her own writing to make the story bigger and better than ever before with a simple but incredibly effective set design from Jasmine Swan and fantastic choreography from Alexzandra Sarmiento allowing Babies to come to life in a big and bold way. Every production element here is in sync with each other to create a show that is sensational in every way.

Jack Godfrey’s music and lyrics means you are never far away from the next outstanding number, with many of the songs present here feeling destined to become classics – with the release of the EP a couple of years ago, several already are familiar and loved by many. The earworm that is opening number ‘Baby Baby Baby’ will stay in your head presumably for all eternity if my experience is anything to go for, while ‘Without Saying Goodbye’ provides a more tender and poignant moment, showcasing Godfrey’s talents and versatility as a writer. There is a touch of Gypsy to ‘Jasmine’s Soliloquy’ but the undoubted highlight has to be the insanely catchy and just exceptional in every way ‘Hot Dad’ – a brilliant song in every way, this is the biggest showstopping number of the evening.

Of course a show as good as Babies needs a talented cast to give it life, and luckily Babies has nine exceptional performers on hand. In what is very much an ensemble piece, each of these nine performers shine individually and collectively. It is the times they are on stage together when magic truly happens, forming a supergoup that goes together flawlessly. Heartstopper and Celebrity Big Brother star Bradley Riches delights in his sweet turn as Toby, showcasing remarkable chemistry with Nathan Johnston’s Jacob as they form a bond. The other power couple of the show belongs to Max Mulrenan’s Ben and Grace Towning’s Becky (covering for Jaina Brock-Patel in the performance I saw and once again proving how vital and sensational understudies and alternates are in their own right).

Though admittedly their characters have comparatively smaller roles, Ashley Goh and Viola Maisey light up the stage as Alex and Grace, particularly in Goh’s refreshingly sunny and positive character. Lucy Carter is a comical highlight in the cast with her brilliantly comedic turn as Lulu with Zoe Athena a standout channelling all the complexities of her character Leah. The cast are completed with a standout performance from Lauren Conroy as Jasmine – think Hermione Granger having a nervous breakdown and you get the idea in a big performance playing to Conroy’s strengths perfectly.

Having fallen in love with Babies last year, my expectations for this fully staged production were immeasurably high, but they more than delivered. This miraculous show is proof of what can be achieved when time and care is taken into crafting a new musical. I can only describe the result as perfect. I have been lucky enough to see some incredible new musicals in the last year – this is without a doubt one of the best. In a show that feels instantly familiar yet unique in its own ways, Babies ticks every box in a faultless piece of theatre. Watching this, it very much felt like I was seeing the birth of the next big thing in musical theatre, leaving me excited to see what is next for this little bundle of joy. Welcome to the world, Babies – I have no doubt you are going to have a big future ahead of you… and baby baby baby, we’re so ready for you.

 Babies plays at The Other Palace until 14th July. Tickets from www.babiesmusical.com 

Photos by Matt Crockett